Blackbird deaths point to looming West Nile Virus threat in the UK

A deadly virus is dying Blackbirds throughout the UK. Beyond the danger of birds, its expansion indicates that viruses created by mosquitoes have a greater threat to humans and animals as a result of climate change.

The spread of the scaffolding virus, it was created in South Africa in 1959, but it is widespread in Europe. It causes a deadly illness in certain bird species, especially black, and the first time in 2020 was detected in the UK. In some parts of the country, especially London, Blackbird populations fell by more than 40% since 2018. “Usutu when he had had to work, we noticed the decline,” he says Hugh Hanmer In British ornithology.

Despite the destructive for birds life, usutu has a low risk for humans and mammals. People infections are rare and generally causes a smooth fever, but the arrival of the UK virus first marked the disease that can be transmitted from animal animals in the country of animals. Virus experts are maintaining the extent to the extent to the disease because it can be a template for the future expansion of mosquito-recipient diseases.

For example, the West Nile Virus extends the same way as usuted and requires the same environmental conditions. “The same mosquito that can transmit users can transmit West Nile, and the same birds that act as hosts (for smack) can be played as hospitality of West Nile,” says Arran Madness In the UK animal and plant health agency (Apha).

Humans can contaminate West Nile viruses from the mosquito bite, but his symptoms can be harder than usage. About 20% of contaminated will have symptoms, fever, headache, body pains, vomiting and diarrhea. In rare cases, the virus can cause severe inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, which can be deadly. It is not known for human vaccines.

Climate change has helped accelerate the expansion of Western Nile virus in northern Europe and east, Research showsAs the virus grows in warm summer temperatures. In the Netherlands, the first time it was detected and the West Nile virus continued in 2020. UK officials will play the fear of a similar pattern in their country Shows studies The climate becomes more and more hospitals to mosquito-witches. “It’s an idea, if we don’t do here, western niles will probably come in the point and it is likely to see the right conditions,” he says stupid.

In response to the threat, Apha launched a project in 2023 to continue the creation and transmission paths in the wild birds. This infrastructure for tracing viruses It will be essential if the country responds quickly to the coming of West Nile, says Zoraiak. “Our real goal, or driven from a government point of view, is being able to perceive new viruses that circulate in animal populations before managing human transmission.”

Reina Sikkema The Rotterdam Medicine Center at the Erasmus University has been spent in the creation of the NEBERAL and the creation of the Nile Virus. Although Western Nile is not detected from 2022The virus believes that it is circulating at a low level, which now verifies that the country’s climate is quite fresh. “I believe it is present, but it needs appropriate circumstances to flip,” he explains. It is the detection of Western Nile, but Sikkema says, but climate factors believe that the virus is to prevent the expansion of the virus for now.

But summer temperatures upwards, including Increasing the frequency of tropical nights – When the UK Met Office weather agency fails when minimum temperatures below 20 ºC, in the UK, Netherlands and other international nations in northern Europe, warns the Sikkema. “Mosquito-born disease is not (just) when you go to your Spanish holiday or South America,” he says stupid.

As well as West Nile viruses, we should say stupidDon’t forget what it is doing with black UK blackouts: “If 40% of human beings dropped the dead in London, you would know quite quickly.”